Abstract: The present invention relates to a block polymeric material. Typically the block polymer comprises units capable of having an average cationic charge density of about 15 or less, preferably 5 or less, more preferably from about 0.05 to about 5, even more preferably from about 0.05 to about 2.77, even more preferably from about 0.1 to about 2.75, most preferably from about 0.75 to about 2.25 units per 100 daltons molecular weight at a pH of from about 4 to about 12. The polymeric material is a suds enhancer and a suds volume extender for personal care products such as soaps and shampoos. The compositions have increased effectiveness for preventing re-deposition of grease during hand and body washing. The polymers are also effective as a soil release agent in fabric cleaning compositions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymeric material comprising units capable of having a cationic charge at a pH of from about 4 to about 12; provided that said polymeric material has an average cationic charge density from about 2.75 or less units per 100 daltons molecular weight at a pH of from about 4 to about 12. The polymeric material is a suds enhancer and a suds volume extender for hand dishwashing compositions and personal care products such as soaps, shaving cream foam, foaming shaving gel, foam dephiliatories and shampoos. The polymers are also effective as a soil release agent in fabric cleaning compositions. The polymers are also useful in agrochemical foam, fire-fighting foam, hard surface cleaner foam, and coagulant for titanium dioxide in paper making.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a block polymeric material. Typically the block polymer comprises units capable of having an average cationic charge density of about 15 or less, preferably 5 or less, more preferably from about 0.05 to about 5, even more preferably from about 0.05 to about 2.77, even more preferably from about 0.1 to about 2.75, most preferably from about 0.75 to about 2.25 units per 100 daltons molecular weight at a pH of from about 4 to about 12. The polymeric material is a suds enhancer and a suds volume extender for personal care products such as soaps and shampoos. The compositions have increased effectiveness for preventing re-deposition of grease during hand and body washing. The polymers are also effective as a soil release agent in fabric cleaning compositions.

Abstract: A variety of reactors that are arranged to treat aerosol particulates that are carried in a fluid stream passing through the reactor is described. In one aspect, the reactor includes a plasma chamber arranged to receive the fluid stream and subject particulates carried in the fluid stream to a cold plasma that has a sufficiently high concentration of reactive species to treat at least some of the particulates passing therethrough. A catalyst is provided downstream of the plasma chamber. The catalyst is arranged to enhance the conversion of reactive species that are contained in the fluid stream before the stream emerges from the reactor. In another aspect, a catalyst electrode is described. The catalyst electrode may include a catalyst material carried on an electrode. A potential may be applied to the electrode during use to attract charged species towards the catalyst.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a plasma reactor is arranged to treat aerosol particulates in a fluid stream passing through the reactor. The plasma reactor includes a plasma chamber having a self-cleaning electrode. The self-cleaning electrode is configured to clean various residues from the electrode without need to open or otherwise service the unit. In another aspect, the invention comprises a carbon-based pre-filter arranged to filter in flowing air to reduce the amount of silicone-based contaminant in the air flow before the air reaches the ionization chamber.

Abstract: A variety of transportable air treatment system improvements are described. In one aspect of the invention, the system is designed to significantly reduce the noise generated during operation. In another aspect, an easily removable cooling unit is provided. In still another aspect, an air treatment unit (as for example a plasma reactor) is provided that is arranged to filter the air stream, inactivate biological organisms and/or reduce or eliminate volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are carried in the air stream. The air treatment unit may take the form of a plurality of stacked trays. In yet another aspect of the invention, the air treatment system further includes a duct unit that directs air from the air treatment unit to the treated air outlet. The duct unit is operable to clamp the stacked trays to help seal the stacked trays.

Abstract: In various aspects of the invention, electrostatic filters having insulated electrodes are described. In such embodiments, care is taken to prevent the accumulation of opposing charges on the insulation, which, over time, would serve to significantly degrade the strength of the electrostatic field created in the dielectric, and thus reduce the performance of the electrostatic filter. A variety of mechanisms are described for mitigating the opposing charge buildup problem.

Abstract: An air purification reactor is described that has a variety of improvements. In one aspect, the air purification reactor includes an ionizer (or plasma chamber), an electrostatic filter, a photocatalyst, and a UV light source that is distinct from the ionizer. The ionizer is arranged to introduce ions into a gaseous fluid stream passing through the air purification device. The electrostatic filter is located downstream of the ionizer and is arranged to electrostatically filter particles from the fluid stream. The UV light source is positioned to subject the photocatalyst to ultraviolet light and may be arranged upstream, downstream, or intermediate the electrostatic filter. With this arrangement, the ultraviolet light that impinges on the photocatalyst causes a photocatalytic oxidative reaction to occur at the photocatalyst that is capable of reducing volatile organic compounds carried in the fluid stream. In other (separate) aspects, the reactor includes an absorber or an oxidation catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a block polymeric material. Typically the block polymer comprises units capable of having an average cationic charge density of about 15 or less, preferably 5 or less, more preferably from about 0.05 to about 5, even more preferably from about 0.05 to about 2.77, even more preferably from about 0.1 to about 2.75, most preferably from about 0.75 to about 2.25 units per 100 daltons molecular weight at a pH of from about 4 to about 12. The polymeric material is a suds enhancer and a suds volume extender for personal care products such as soaps and shampoos. The compositions have increased effectiveness for preventing re-deposition of grease during hand and body washing. The polymers are also effective as a soil release agent in fabric cleaning compositions.

Abstract: A variety of transportable air treatment system improvements are described. In one aspect of the invention, the system is designed to significantly reduce the noise generated during operation. In another aspect, an easily removable cooling unit is provided. In still another aspect, an air treatment unit (as for example a plasma reactor) is provided that is arranged to filter the air stream, inactivate biological organisms and/or reduce or eliminate volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are carried in the air stream. The air treatment unit may take the form of a plurality of stacked trays. In yet another aspect of the invention, the air treatment system further includes a duct unit that directs air from the air treatment unit to the treated air outlet. The duct unit is operable to clamp the stacked trays to help seal the stacked trays.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a block polymeric material. Typically the block polymer comprises units capable of having an average cationic charge density of about 15 or less, preferably 5 or less, more preferably from about 0.05 to about 5, even more preferably from about 0.05 to about 2.77, even more preferably from about 0.1 to about 2.75, most preferably from about 0.75 to about 2.25 units per 100 daltons molecular weight at a pH of from about 4 to about 12. The polymeric material is a suds enhancer and a suds volume extender for personal care products such as soaps and shampoos. The compositions have increased effectiveness for preventing re-deposition of grease during hand and body washing. The polymers are also effective as a soil release agent in fabric cleaning compositions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for using polymeric suds enhancers (stabilizers) to increase the suds and/or foam volume and suds and/or foam retention in suds-forming and/or foam-forming compositions comprising such polymeric suds stabilizers. Suitable suds-forming and/or foam-forming compositions comprise one or more polymeric suds stabilizers. The polymeric suds stabilizers suitable for use in the methods and/or compositions of the present invention comprise cationic, anionic, and noncharged monomer units, or units having mixtures thereof, wherein said polymers have an average cationic charge density from about 0.05 to about 5 units per 100 daltons molecular weight at a pH of from about 4 to about 12.

Abstract: An electrostatic filter having an improved dielectric is described. The dielectric constitutes a dielectric mat formed from high porosity non-woven fibers having pores that have a void fraction of at least 97%. The dielectric mat is sandwiched by a pair of porous electrodes. The fibers that form the mat have a maximum cross sectional thickness that is less than 100 microns and a length to maximum thickness ratio of greater than 10. The pores are preferably statistically substantially equally sized and open in three dimensions. In various preferred embodiments, the void fraction of the dielectric mat is greater than 99 percent. The mat preferably has a tortuosity of at least 2. The maximal cross sectional width of the fibers is preferably in the range 0.1 to 50 microns. In many implementations, the fibers that form the dielectric mat are formed from either polyester or polypropylene.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for using polymeric suds enhancers (stabilizers) to increase the suds and/or foam volume and suds and/or foam retention in suds-forming and/or foam-forming compositions comprising such polymeric suds stabilizers. Suitable suds-forming and/or foam-forming compositions comprise one or more polymeric suds stabilizers. The polymeric suds stabilizers suitable for use in the methods and/or compositions of the present invention comprise cationic, anionic, and noncharged monomer units, or units having mixtures thereof, wherein said polymers have an average cationic charge density from about 0.05 to about 5 units per 100 daltons molecular weight at a pH of from about 4 to about 12.

Abstract: An electrostatic filter having an improved dielectric is described. The dielectric constitutes a dielectric mat formed from a high porosity non-woven fibers having pores that have a void faction of at least 97%. The dielectric mat is sandwiched by a pair of porous electrodes. The fibers that form the mat have a maximum cross sectional thickness that is less than 100 microns and a length to maximum thickness ratio of greater than 10. The pores are preferably statistically substantially equally sized and open in three dimensions. In various preferred embodiments, the void fraction of the dielectric mat is greater than 99 percent. The mat preferably has a tortuosity of at least 2. The maximal cross sectional width of the fibers is preferably in the range 0.1 to 50 microns. In many implementations, the fibers that form the dielectric mat are formed from either polyester or polypropylene.

Abstract: In various aspect of the invention, electrostatic filters having insulated electrodes are described. In such embodiments, care is taken to prevent the accumulation of opposing charges on the insulation, which, over time, would serve to significantly degrade the strength of the electrostatic field created in the dielectric, and thus reduce the performance of the electrostatic filter. A variety of mechanisms are described for mitigating the opposing charge buildup problem.

Abstract: In one aspect, a plasma reactor that is arranged to treat aerosol particulates that are carried in a fluid stream passing through the reactor is described. The plasma reactor includes a plasma chamber arranged to receive the fluid stream and subject particulates carried in the fluid stream to a cold plasma that has a sufficiently high concentration of reactive species to treat at least some of the particulates passing there through. A porous catalyst is provided downstream of the plasma chamber and is configured to receive the fluid stream. The catalyst is arranged to significantly enhance the conversion of reactive species that are contained in the fluid stream before the stream emerges from the plasma reactor. In a preferred embodiment, the catalyst is Manganese Dioxide (MnO2). In another aspect a catalyst includes at least two porous spaced apart manganese dioxide catalyst blocks.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for using amine oxide monomer-containing polymeric suds enhancers (enhancers) to increase the suds and/or foam volume and suds and/or foam retention in suds-forming and/or foam-forming compositions comprising such amine oxide monomer-containing polymeric suds enhancers. Suitable suds-forming and/or foam-forming compositions comprise one or more amine oxide monomer-containing polymeric suds enhancers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for using zwitterionic polymeric suds enhancers (stabilizers) to increase the suds and/or foam volume and suds and/or foam retention in suds-forming and/or foam-forming compositions comprising such zwitterionic polymeric suds stabilizers. Suitable suds-forming and/or foam-forming compositions comprise one or more zwitterionic polymeric suds stabilizers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for using amine oxide monomer-containing polymeric suds enhancers (enhancers) to increase the suds and/or foam volume and suds and/or foam retention in suds-forming and/or foam-forming compositions comprising such amine oxide monomer-containing polymeric suds enhancers. Suitable suds-forming and/or foam-forming compositions comprise one or more amine oxide monomer-containing polymeric suds enhancers.